{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Ok, I am definitely cheating by adding words but this week was extra special as we wecomed two new babies into our family! My brother, Jonathan, and Erik's sister, Shawna, both welcomed little boys to their families this week. Seth was born on the 25th and Shawna's new baby was born just this morning. 

In honour of our two new nephews, the two best things to happen this week, you get two photos today. An extra special treat!

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

*** *** ***

Mr. Seth. Taking his Pa for a walk outside.

The newest. Passing his older brother's inspection.

Not pretty.

We made or way from Kuala Lumpur to the Cameron Highlands in what was undoubtedly my least favourite trip.

The ride was only four and a half hours, which happens to be one of our shortest trips, but I was miserable. We were on a bus and the driver seemed to have something to prove because he was flying around corners (of which there were many).

I spent the second half of the trip with my face in a plastic bag. I don't know if my nearly empty stomach made things worse or if it saved me from some misery, but my poor tummy made a valiant effort to rid itself of whatever it could.

At one point I was ready to jump off the bus and walk the rest of the way because I felt so awful. I have terrible flashbacks of choking on vomit or on that stupid plastic bag as I desperately tried to breathe between heaves.

I am not looking forward to the ride out of here. And if anyone knows how to puke into a little plastic bag without getting vomit all over your face then please share -- I want to be fully prepared when I board our next bus.

Seth Benjamin

Seth Benjamin

Born May 25, 2013 at 21:35

Weight: 8lbs 1oz.

Height: 21.75 inches

Allow me to introduce the youngest little mister in the Jansen clan, my sweet nephew. 

Mama, Pops and baby are all doing well. And I am absolutely smitten.

Seth Benjamin, you don't know me yet, but you will. 

Your auntie loves you more than you can imagine. 

Welcome to the world, sweet one. 

Fabric Obsession

I cannot stop buying cloth souvenirs. It is awesome and terrible. I make it sound like I have bought a lot, which I haven't, but what I have purchased has been cloth of some sort.

I was hoping to buy a painting for our home, some carvings, and maybe some other interesting things, but I haven't. 

Cloth packs well and it is nice to have things that pack well when you are carrying everything on your back. 

Another factor is that African artwork is my favourite. I am not a huge fan of the paintings I have seen in both South America and South East Asia -- they just aren't my style. And I haven't loved any of the wood carvings we have happened upon. 

In Peru I purchased a tablecloth. Same with Ecuador where I also picked up some yarn, a hammock, and a Christmas ornament. In Scotland I bought a blanket. In Laos I got a small cloth ornament. In Cambodia a scarf. And I have now bought a blanket and a scarf in Indonesia. Oh, and I finally found some fabric!

All fabric! 

We saw this awesome mirror I wanted to buy, but who wants to carry a mirror around the world with them? Same goes for pottery etc. 

It is true, we have sent boxes of things home on two separate occasions, but they were when we left South America and when we arrived in Bangkok so we had been carrying whatever we sent home for a while. 

We have three weeks left and then I have three in Australia. Here is to hoping I find something out of the fabric family to take home with me. 

PS. Friends and family back home -- I haven't bought gifts for anybody. Sorry! I was thinking about it but it got way too stressful. 

In the Quiet.

I wake up early most days. My internal alarm clock goes off between 04:30 and 05:00 giving me a couple hours before Erik thinks it is an appropriate time to get out of bed.

Most mornings I lay and think, savouring my husband's arms wrapped around me and listening to his even breathing. 

Some mornings I read. I try to keep these mornings few as the light disturbs Erik's sleep. 

Some mornings I just listen - it is amazing what you hear when you are actually listening.

And often I pray.

This morning I headed to our porch and read from Isaiah. 

That is where I sit as I write this. 

The sky has gone from nearly black to a deep blue.

The roosters are increasing the intensity with which they are begging the sun to rise.

The birds are chirping.

Bugs are cricking, twitching, clacking, whistling, and buzzing.

And my heart is still. 

Amidst all the noise (for it is down right loud) I have been quieted, stilled. 

It is strange how a verse can speak to you one day and hold no personal meaning the next. I regularly happen upon verses I have underlined in the past and I question the significance they once held. In one moment they speak deeply to the heart, in another they have less impact, but they are always truth. 

Today, and I hope everyday, this verse filled me with hope and peace. 

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;

He rises to show you compassion.

For the Lord is a God of justice.

Blessed are all who wait for him!"

Isaiah 30:18

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wishing you a splendid weekend!

A list.

• Erik boards a homeward bound plane in a one month. He gets to wrap his arms around everyone I love so dearly three weeks sooner than I do. I am partly jealous, but mainly just sad that he will be leaving me. I am excited to go on an adventure on my own! At least I will be onmy own  until Lynn picks me up at the airport.
• I think I am going to go through some pretty intense Erik-withdrawal when he leaves. We have spent every moment of every day together and I have loved it!! 
• I am looking forward to Australia -- so looking forward to it. I cannot wait to see Lynn and to be in a home!!! She was gracious enough to not say no when I told her I was coming for three weeks. That is an exceptionally long time for a houseguest. I will have to be on my best behaviour. 
• We are in Lobmok, Indonesia. I have to admit that Indonesia is my favourite country in South East Asia (of the one's we have visited, obviously). They have all been wonderful, but there is something about this place that gives me the warm fuzzies. 
• We went for a scooter ride around part of the island yesterday and it was breath-taking!! So green and lush with rolling hills, rice patties and a stunning ocean view. Amazing.
• Erik and I will have two new babies in our family by the end of the month, one Jansen and one Olson (...kind of). Erik's sister, Shawna, and my sister-in-law, Courtney, are due at the end of the month, just one day apart from each other. I cannot wait to "meet" the little ones. And I cannot wait to hear the birth stories. I am a sucker for birth stories.
• I love rice. I love eating rice with every meal. I need to eat less of it when I come home, but it is delicious. I like it plain, fried, with or without sauce, hot, cold, any which way. It is so good.
• I love the availability of vegetables in South East Asia! Veggies were scarce is South America, but they are plentiful in these parts! How can people survive without eating vegetables? 
• And that is all I have to say this morning. It is shaping up to be another beautiful day in paradise! 

Friends!

When we were planning our trip we left an open invite for friends saying anyone could join us at anytime. Matt and Elaina (a nursing friend from school) called us the day after Thanksgiving to inform us that they would be joining us at the end of April. They happened to want to see Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and the dates they were coming happened to match the time we would be in that area.

Now here we are in Malaysia with Matt and Elaina. They have been with us for a week and we have been to Bangkok, Koh Tao, and now Langkawi. We are going to Penang tomorrow... I think that is a province, but I can't tell you the city we are heading to because I don't actually know where we are going.

We spent a couple days in Koh Tao. We rented scooters, went snorkeling, swam in the warm ocean, and enjoyed the stunning views the island had to offer. I have never been to a beach as beautiful as the one we went to in Koh Tao. The water was crystal clear and there were thousands of incredible fish swimming in the coral just below the surface around the edges of the bay.

It is great to have travel companions. It is nice to have someone else make decisions and to be able to tag along. The first few days took a bit of adjusting, but we have found a comfortable stride.

The rest of my trip can be measured in thirds. We have three more weeks with Matt and Elaina, then three weeks with just the two of us before Erik heads home and I have three weeks in Australia.

I am very excited to see Lynn in Australia. I think I would want to go home soon if it weren't for that. Well, if my ticket home were booked for tomorrow I wouldn't be too disappointed. If I have only learned one thing traveling (and I have learned many more than that) it would be that there is no place quite as wonderful as home. I love Canada.